Updated September 30, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
PropNext vs Topstep
Where PropNext and Topstep differ
| Compare | PropNext ReviewVisitVisit |  Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge price | €99 to €1,999 | $49 |
| Profit split | 80% to 90% | 90% |
| Account sizes | $10,000 - $500,000 | $50K, $100K, $150K buying power |
| Payout frequency | Every 14 days | Every 2 weeks |
| Maximum drawdown | 6% to 10% | Not confirmed |
| Daily loss limit | 3% to 5% | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | National Futures Association (NFA) registered introducing broker, Topstep Brokerage LLC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registered FCM / NFA member, Plus500US Financial Services LLC |
Same on both: Evaluation steps (2 step).
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Key differences
- Topstep scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.6.
- Founded is lower at Topstep: 2010 vs 2024.
- Support channels: only Topstep offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
PropNext
PropNext suits traders who want a mid-range entry cost and a solid share of profits, with a challenge priced at €99 to €1,999 and a split of 80% to 90%. The trade-off is pace: payouts run Every 14 days, and no regulator is named, so weigh the firm on its own terms.
Topstep
Topstep suits beginners who want a low-cost route into futures prop trading, pairing a challenge price of $49 with a profit split of 90% that is competitive without topping the table. The brokerage account adds an account fee of $0 and payouts Every 2 weeks, so it suits a funded account you plan to grow.
Score breakdown
| Area | PropNext | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Fees of €99 to €1,999 are mid-range, and the split of 80% to 90% tops out below 95% on the site. | 9.4HigherAccount fees are $0, the inactivity fee is $0 and the challenge costs $49, against a site median of €56.56. |
| Offer | 9.5Account sizes of $10,000 - $500,000 cover many budgets and 2 step keeps the route to a funded account short. | 9.7Higher90% paid Every 2 weeks on a 2 step evaluation, with markets limited to futures. |
| Trust | 8.0Support on email, chat and help centre is the visible safety net, alongside a 2024 founding year. | 9.5Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | PropNext | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Prop trading firms | 1 of 37 | 7 of 37 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | PropNext | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Topstep LLC |
| Headquarters | Nauru | United States |
| Founded | 2024 | 2010Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Brokers
| Fact | PropNext | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $49 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0.50 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Markets | Not confirmed | Futures |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Features | Not confirmed | Demo account, Futures |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | 1% processing fee on debit card deposits and withdrawals; wire fee $10 outbound, $0 inbound |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | TopstepX |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | PropNext | Topstep | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit split | 80% to 90%at the median | 90%at the median | 90 |
| Maximum drawdown | 6% to 10%at the median | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Daily loss limit | 3% to 5%at the median | Not confirmed | 3 |
Median across 26 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
PropNext
Pros
- Challenge fees of €99 to €1,999 undercut the $29 to $549 band at City Traders Imperium while staying above the $49 entry at Topstep.
- A profit split of 80% to 90% lines up with the 90% site median, so a funded trader keeps a competitive share.
- Account sizes of $10,000 - $500,000 let a trader start small and scale up without changing the evaluation format.
Cons
- Payouts go out Every 14 days, which is slow for anyone drawing a monthly income from a single funded account.
- The lower end of the 80% to 90% range sits under the 95% the strongest firms on the site reach, so a weaker tier earns noticeably less.
- A 3% to 5% daily loss limit under a 6% to 10% maximum drawdown leaves a wide adverse day little room before the account is at risk.
Topstep
Pros
- Entry is priced at $49 for a 2 step evaluation, with a profit split of 90%.
- The brokerage account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so an account left open does not slowly bleed money.
- Payouts arrive Every 2 weeks, a steadier rhythm than a single monthly cycle.
Cons
- The split of 90% leaves a share of profits with the firm, where Apex Trader Funding shares 100%.
- Markets are futures only, against 80.6% of the brands here that cover stocks.
- Topstep ranks 7 of 21 on challenge price, and Alpha Capital Group lists $27 for its own challenge.
Who each suits
PropNext
Who it suits
- Traders starting small who want account sizes of $10,000 - $500,000 at a mid-range €99 to €1,999 rather than the cheapest entry available.
- Anyone comfortable working through a 2 step evaluation and accepting a 80% to 90% split on a funded account.
- Traders who can plan around slower cash, since payouts go out Every 14 days.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want the smallest first outlay can pick Alpha Capital Group at $27 instead.
- Anyone who needs a wider fee band can look at City Traders Imperium, priced at $29 to $549.
- Traders who want a lower single figure can start at Topstep with $49.
Topstep
Who it suits
- Beginners testing futures prop trading, since beginners lists beginners and demo account and futures includes a demo account.
- Traders who want low running costs on a funded account: an account fee of $0, an inactivity fee of $0 and 90% kept of profits.
- Anyone weighing entry price against share, since Funding Pips runs challenge prices of $29 to $555, a different price point to Topstep's $49.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want the whole profit, since Apex Trader Funding shares 100% against the 90% kept here.
- Anyone trading stocks, ETFs or crypto, because the market list is futures.
- Budget-first buyers, since Alpha Capital Group lists $27 for its challenge.
Current offers
Topstep
Current offer
Discount code
Responsible Trading Advantage discounts: Up to $30/month
Add a Daily Loss Limit to unlock exclusive benefits, including larger payout caps and discounts on eligible accounts; listed as -$10 / -$20 / -$30 on the $50K / $100K / $150K accounts
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Topstep Trading Combine monthly discount: -$10 to -$30
One-time activation fee paid after passing the Trading Combine; discount is shown alongside the eligible account price
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
PropNext
How much does a PropNext challenge cost?+
PropNext charges €99 to €1,999 for an evaluation, quoted in euros, across account sizes of $10,000 - $500,000. That is a mid-range entry rather than the cheapest here: Alpha Capital Group charges $27, Topstep $49, and City Traders Imperium spans $29 to $549.
What profit split does PropNext pay on a funded account?+
A funded PropNext account pays a split of 80% to 90%, so the tier you buy sets the share you keep. The spread between the two ends is wide enough that it pays to read the split attached to the account size you are paying for rather than the headline figure.
Topstep
How much does the Topstep challenge cost?+
The evaluation fee is $49, and the same figure is listed as the minimum deposit, so that is the outlay before any trading. For context, the median challenge price across the brands here is €56.56. A failed attempt means paying the fee again to try, so treat it as a cost of repeated attempts rather than a single ticket.
What profit do I keep and how quickly are payouts made?+
Once funded, you keep 90% of the profit, and payouts go out Every 2 weeks. The split is a percentage of profit rather than a flat fee, so a thin month does not eat into it. The cadence matters as much as the percentage for cash flow, since a good month reaches your account sooner with a frequent schedule.
Other options to compare
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